ᑕᕼᗩᑭTEᖇ 161
[Zayn]
Zayn grinned excitedly as he showed him his Christmas gift for Ernest. Johannah had helped him pack it! "Aw, I'm sure he'll love it," Liam spoke through the iPad.
Harry walked out of the bathroom, towel-drying his hair. "Oh hey, Liam."
"Hey, Haz."
"How is Ruth feeling?"
Zayn sighed as they turned to their boring conversation. He got up and grabbed his teddy, whom he had named Benny, after Ben Tennyson. Louis had helped him with the name. Today, Benny was wearing his Superman costume, and though he'd saved Ernest's car this morning, Zayn was starting to think the bear needed to another adventure. He jumped up and hurried out of the room, seeking out the toddler twins. They were quite fun to play with.
Someone was cooking food downstairs and the aroma wafted to the second floor. Daisy and Phoebe were doing each other's hair, sitting in blue and green onesies. Their door was ajar and Zayn made Benny wave at them. "That's Daisy and that's Phoebe," he reminded the teddy bear. He walked into Doris and Ernest's room, where the two were jumping on the bed, throwing pillows at each other. Zayn gasped in excitement and joined Ernest up on the bed. "WHY you fighting?" he yelled loudly.
Ernest was quiet as he constantly got hit by pillows, and he fell back on his bum. Feeling bad for the boy, Zayn and Benny started throwing pillows at Doris. Zayn had a much better aim and he laughed happily. "I win!" He turned to Benny, but his mouth fell when he noticed that the bear was no longer in his arms. Zayn looked frantically around and found his buddy on the floor, like the numerous pillows. Oh no, he'd thrown Benny.
"Benny," Zayn said distraughtly and jumped off the bed. He picked his bear up and hurried out of the room, inspecting him on the way to Louis'. "Louis, Hawry, Benny huwrt!" he yelled and thrust the bear in the elder boy's arms. Louis sighed and glanced at Liam. "This has been our entire week."
Liam laughed on the other end, and Zayn scowled at the screen. "My Benny huwrt, Liam." It wasn't funny.
"Oh, I'm so insensitive," Liam apologized, sending Louis an amused look. "I apologize, Zayn."
Zayn nodded in satisfaction. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine," Harry and Louis said simultaneously. Louis handed Benny back. "A fall's not going to destroy him. Nor will water. Or getting choked by the covers. He's only a be-"
"Beary brave bear," Harry cheered, cutting Louis off. Zayn smiled widely. "Okay then!" Louis smiled sheepishly up at Harry.
"Oh, I wish I could be there with you guys," Liam whined and Zayn leaned forward to kiss the screen. "Me too! You can come. Look, Hawry be a good boy and come! You can too!"
Liam smiled fondly, his eyes crinkling. "Aw, I'd love to Zaynie, but we've only got two days left. Besides, I've already sent my package."
"Pakkage?" Zayn wondered. He sat down with Benny on his lap. Liam smirked and leaned back on the chair he was sitting on. "Mhm, package. You know, as in Christmas present."
Zayn couldn't believe he'd forgotten about the Christmas presents he'd be getting. He'd be getting presents! And from Liam too!
"You're getting presents from each of us," Harry told him with a dimpled grin. Zayn sat back with a look of awe. "That's so many pwresents!" He started counting on his fingers. One from Louis, one from Niall, one from Harry, one from Liam; that would be...four presents! He held his four fingers up to show everybody. "Am getting fouwr pwresents!" he cheered and lifted Benny up. Louis snorted. "Yeah, right, buddy, I think we love you a little more than that. Give us credit."
"Besides, Gemma and mum wanted to send a present over as well," Harry teased. "And don't forget my family," Louis sing sang. "I heard the twins discussing something about Ben 10."
Zayn gasped, his mouth falling agape. "S-so many pwresents?"
Harry laughed and picked him up, planting a huge kiss on his cheek. "What? You don't want them?"
Zayn blushed. He frowned. Oh no, Harry thought he didn't want them. I want them! "N-no, I want them," Zayn stammered shyly. "I like pwresents," he said happily.
"I know, I'm just kidding," Harry assured him with a chuckle.
"Kids, dinner's ready!" Johannah called from downstairs. Zayn perked up. "We hungwry."
"Also," Louis told Liam. "Everything is now a 'we'. We're tired and we're hungry and we want to play. It's like he's in a relationship with the bear," Louis jested. Harry grinned, hugging Zayn to his chest. "I think it's adorable."
Zayn grinned up at the boy happily. "Me too!" He had no idea what they were talking about, the thought of food still present on his mind. But hey, he was adorable. That sounded like a positive word.
The sound of footsteps thundered outside in the hallway and Zayn knew all the best seats would be taken downstairs. "Let's go," he rushed to everybody, and he tugged at Harry's long locks. "Benny and me hungwry."
A few hours later, Zayn was trying to watch TV with the toddler twins. The volume was low though and everyone was whispering all around him. Zayn sighed when he couldn't hear what Spongebob was saying. He glanced at Ernest but the boy had fallen asleep in Louis' lap. Louis himself had nodded off. The four of them were sitting on the carpet, backs against the couches where everyone else was seated.
"Louis sleeping," Zayn informed the room. "Ewrnest too," he added. The whispering stopped. He turned around curiously and everyone was glancing at the clock. Zayn glanced at it, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
The main door suddenly opened and someone stepped into the foyer. Seconds later, Dan walked inside with a pizza box. Harry and Lottie peeked out of the kitchen. "Where's Lou?"
"Sleeping," Johannah informed them as she helped Dan place the drinks and pizza on the coffee table.
"We eat pizza?" Zayn said excitedly. Harry chuckled as he walked out with a bowl of jelly and custard, Lottie carrying cups and plates for all. "It's Louis' birthday, remember?" Harry reminded him gently. Zayn scrunched his face. Louis' birthday? He glanced at Dan, Louis' dad. He felt a little nauseous and his fingers instinctively went to the scar below his elbow. He didn't like birthdays.
"Niall's biwrthday fun," Zayn recalled to himself. While everyone was busy bringing stuff into the living room, Harry noticed Zayn's change in mood. He leaned down and picked him up. "Are you okay?"
Zayn didn't know so he shook his head. Harry caressed his cheek. "Hey, do you remember Niall's birthday when you gave him the blue pencil?"
Zayn cracked a smile despite the nausea. "Yes. I buy blue pencil like-like Wali," his voice faded. "-buy me." He suddenly felt very sad and Zayn hugged Harry tightly. "I miss Wali," he said, her soft and kind face flashing before his eyes. He remembered her gentle caress, and he remembered the way they used to play together. Zayn froze at the sudden memories. "Hawry, Wali say she come back but she not come back. Whewre is Wali?"
Harry was looking very worried and everyone was starting to notice that something was wrong. "I don't know, Zayn," Harry said softly. "Maybe she had to do something important. But hey, I'm here now. And so's Louis and everyone else."
Zayn blinked, feeling out of it. He was quiet and watched in silence as two minutes later everyone woke Louis up with their cheers. Louis looked around groggily, a smile playing on his lips. "You guys are awful lucky I fell asleep, huh?"
"Happy Birthday, babe."
"Hey, taste the custard first. Harry and I tried a new recipe."
"Presents today or tomorrow, bro. Y'know I was tempted this year too, but I didn't merge your presents."
"Well, thanks a lot, Daisy," Louis chuckled. "Hey, Zayn."
"Is he okay?"
"He's upset. Don't worry, you eat, I'll be back."
Zayn snapped out of a stupor as Harry walked up the stairs with him. They ended up in Louis' room where Harry opened the window slightly, letting in some cold. He then sat down with Zayn on the bed. "What's wrong?" Harry asked him gently, stroking his cheek. "Birthday's are a good thing, Zayn. You know that, right?"
"Z-Zayn know," he mumbled. He lifted his elbow up and showed Harry the scar he had. The event flashed behind his eyes and Zayn flinched. "Hawry, I bleed."
"No, no, you're fine," Harry assured him, swallowing thickly. He showed Zayn his arm. "Look. You're fine. No one is going to hurt you and no one will ever hurt you," Harry said, making Zayn look him in the eyes. Zayn felt himself relax slightly, the emerald green calming him down. The flashbacks disappeared and he blinked confusedly. Harry hugged him tightly. "I got you, Zaynie."
Zayn started crying and he tried to explain what he'd seen in the flashback, but all that came out was blubbering. "And- and dad- Wali-m-m-me cwry-"
"Zayn," Harry said firmly, kissing his tears away. "Listen to me closely. Are you listening, baby?"
Zayn sniffled and nodded.
"That is not your dad. That is not a dad," Harry told him gently, but firmly. His green eyes were glassy and Zayn wiped his nose with the back of his hand. "But Wali say he dad."
"He's not," Harry told him again, and he kissed the top of his head with a sigh. "A dad doesn't hurt his child. A dad's someone who makes you happy."
Zayn probably looked as confused as he felt so Harry spoke a little clearer. "A dad's someone who watches Ben 10 with you. Someone who plays with you and makes you laugh. A dad won't hurt you. Ever. A dad is like a friend. A dad is like-"
"Like Louis?" Zayn asked hopefully. Harry looked stunned and it took him a few seconds, but he smiled slightly. "Y-Yeah, like Louis. You think he would be a good dad?"
Zayn was quiet, his head pounding slightly. Was Louis a dad? Was Louis his dad? Was Harry his dad? Were they his new dads? Could he have more than one dad? Zayn groaned tiredly. Harry caught him as he slumped forward. "Okay, no more existential questions. We're fine. You're fine. Do you want to go back downstairs and wish Louis a happy birthday?"
Zayn nodded and wiped the remaining wetness from his cheeks. "Hawry?"
"Hmm?" Harry asked as he picked him up and closed the window. Zayn rested his head on the boy's shoulder. "You nice. I...love you."
Harry stopped for a second. But then he spoke softly, stroking Zayn' temple. "I love you too, Zayn."
↠↠↠A/N↠↠↠
We're progressing (:
QOTC: do you think Zayn is starting to forget some memories, or do you think they're solidifying? Do you think he'll recognize Waliyha if he ever sees her again?